Aria ES

The Aria Diamond ES-175 was an SG copy introduced somewhere between 1971 and 1974 as a new entry-level offering to slot below the existing 1922 model. It was part of the lower-priced Diamond brand and was made in Japan by Matsumoku.

This model was also branded as Westminster and Fantom, either model SG-250 (1976) or SG-300 (1977), and as the Penco E-30 with the Epiphone headstock in 1973.

Features

Circa 1973

1977

• 25,000 Yen (1976)
• 30,000 Yen (1977)

Body:

• Beveled, solid Nato body
• Pancake construction
• Rowan top & back veneers (Fantom)
• Polyurethane finish

Epiphone headstock

Neck:

• 1-pc quartersawn Nato
• Bolt-on construction
  • Joins body at 17th fret

• Rosewood fretboard
  • Acrylic pearloid dot inlays
  • 12" radius
• Open Book headstock (~1972-1973)
  • Silk-screened logo
• Generic headstock (1974-early 1978)
  • Silk-screened logo
• Epiphone headstock (Circa late 1978)
  • Silk-screened logo
• 21 frets
• 24 ³/₄" scale
• 1 ⁹/₁₆" nut width???

Westminster SG-250

Electronics:

• Two single coil pickups
  • Humbucker style covers
  • 3 adjustment screws (~1973-1977)
• 3-way switch
• 2 Vol, 2 Tone

Hardware:

• Chrome Hardware
• Individually enclosed tuning machines
  • Yellow Keystone buttons (~1972-1973)
    • Double ring
  • Metal Keystone buttons (1974-1978)
• 4-ply Batwing style pickguard (~1972-1973)
• 4-ply Angel Wing style pickguard (1974-1978)
• Bell shaped truss rod cover
  • 2-ply b/w
  • 3 screws
• Cort-style truss rod cover (early 1978)
  • 2-ply b/w
  • 3 screws
• Black Amp knobs
• Tune-O-Matic style bridge
• Stopbar tailpiece

Finishes:

• Burgundy / Cherry Wine
• Walnut
• White